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Statement of Faith

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Statement of Faith

Samir Afghan

September 15, 2023

Afghan Journal of Theology, Vol. 1

1. We believe in One God, infinite in glory and majesty, exclusively worthy of worship and adoration of all. We believe that the Oneness of God is Trinitarian eternally and by necessity. We believe in One God in three equally divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

The communicable attributes of the divinity that each person of the Trinity fully possesses include, but are not limited to, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, perfection, holiness, goodness, and glory. The human mind can neither grasp all the attributes of the divine nature nor can comprehend any one attribute fully. God, in His mercy, has chosen to reveal himself faintly through nature, truly through His Word, and completely in Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word of God incarnate. 

Texts: Deut 6:4-5, Mark 12:29-30, James 2:1, Matt 28:19, 2 Cor 13:14, 1 Cor 12:4-5, 1 Peter 1:2, Romans 11:33, Psalm 18:30, Rev 4:8, Psalm 119:68, Col 1:17, Matt 18:20, John 1:1

2. We believe our Lord Jesus is truly divine and truly human, having two natures in one essence. We believe in his virgin birth, his sinless life, his miracles, his vicarious and atoning sacrifice, his bodily death and resurrection, and his ascension to the right hand of the Father. We believe he continues to mediate for the saints until his return in power and glory. We believe he is the Messiah, our Saviour, our Healer, our Shepherd, our Deliverer, our King, and our Lord. 

Texts: Phil 2:6-8, Isaiah 7:14, 1 Peter 2:22, John 20:30-31, Mark 10:45, Mark 8:31,1 Cor 15:14-15, Heb 7:25, 1 John 4:14, Isaiah 53:4-6, John 10:14, Rev 19:16

3. We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, who is fully divine and is a person and not merely a power. He has all the attributes of divine nature, being the creator and giver of life. The Holy Spirit is sent into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, and to apply the saving work of Christ to men and women. The Holy Spirit convicts and draws sinners to Christ, and it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are born again. It is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we are enabled to live the Christian life. It is also by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are sealed for salvation and will be bodily resurrected from the dead like our Lord Jesus.

Text: John 14:26, Genesis 1:2, Psalm 139:7, John 3:5, Acts 1:8, Eph 1:13, Romans 8:11

4. We believe in the inerrant Word of God, which is composed of the 66 books of the Bible, in their original text, and is inspired by the Holy Spirit as the revelation of God for the salvation of all those who believe. The Word of God has the final authority in the church. 

Texts: 2 Tim 3:15-16, 2 Peter 1:21, Matt.24:35, 1 Cor 2:13

5. We believe that humans were created sinless, but our first parents, Adam and Eve, rebelled and sinned against God. We believe through the sin of Adam, all creation has been condemned by God to futility and humans to eternal hell. There is no salvation from this destiny apart from the saving work of the second Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Texts: Gen 1:26, Rom 5:12, Rom 8:20, John 3:36, Rom 6:23, 1 Cor 15:22

6. We believe that salvation is the work of God, calling sinners to repentance from their sins and to believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross as their only hope. We believe we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation means being reborn through the Holy Spirit, being reconciled to God as His dear child, and to do the good works He has prepared for us as a fruit of Him working in us.

Texts: Eph 2:8-9, Mark 1:15, Romans 5:1, John 3:3, Titus 3:5, 2 Cor 5:18, John 1:12, Eph 2:10, Heb 13:20-21


7. We believe in the universal Church, built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ himself as the cornerstone. The church is composed of all the saints, believers already in glory and true believers that are being sanctified. It is through the church that God wants to reveal His manifold wisdom to the world. The church exists to worship deeply, evangelize widely, disciple thoroughly, fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ , be the pillar and buttress of truth, and patiently and eagerly await and yearn in prayer for the return of Jesus. 

Texts: Eph 2:20, 1 Cor 12:12-27, Eph 3:10, John 4:23, Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19-20, Col 1:28, Phil 1:29, 1 Peter 4:12-13, 1 Tim 3:15, 1 Thess 1:10

8. We believe in the personal and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate our salvation and establish His glorious Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

Texts: Acts 1:11, Heb 9:28, Rev 1:7, 1 Thess 4:16-17, 2 Pet 3:13, Rev 22:20

Read other articles from this volume:

Introduction

Introduction

A few introductory words about the vision, mission, and aim of the Afghan Journal of Theology and the ministry of Lumens of Truth.

Statement of Faith

Statement of Faith

This is the statement of faith of the Lumens of Truth ministries, outlining and summarizing our beliefs based on the Word of God.

What Is Theology?

What Is Theology?

It is important to ask the question, "What is theology and why is it important?", in the beginning of a theological journal.

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